Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Byrd sues King over boxing deal

Says promoter failed to pay minimum salary

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd of Las Vegas has filed suit against Don King, alleging the fight promoter has failed to pay him his contractual minimum salary.

According to the suit filed Monday in federal court in New York, Byrd claims King breached their contract signed in August 2002 that calls for Byrd to earn a guaranteed $2.5 million per fight and for King to arrange two fights per year from 2003 through 2005.

Byrd won the vacant IBF title by unanimous decision over Evander Holyfield on Dec. 14, 2002, in his first fight for King. But in the suit, Byrd alleges he was paid only $2 million for the Holyfield fight, $1 million for his Sept. 20 defense against Fres Oquendo and $900,000 for his April 17 draw with Andrew Golota.

The suit also alleges King agreed to pay Byrd $2.5 million for a proposed fight later this year against Jameel McCline, the IBF's top-ranked contender, but King made that contingent upon securing television-right and site-right fees.

Attorney Judd Burstein, who filed suit on Byrd's behalf, said less than 24 hours after the filing, King made Byrd an unconditional $2.5 million offer to fight McCline on or before Oct. 17. Even if Byrd takes that bout, Burstein claims, the contract remains in breach.

Byrd is seeking $13 million in actual damages and $50 million in punitive damages.

"This is like duck soup," Burstein said. "It's as easy as it gets. ... The problem is, this is what Don has been doing for years. Our position is that it's kind of a bait and switch. He promises you a minimum and then he never pays it."

King met with Byrd and his wife and manager, Tracy, at the promoter's Las Vegas home July 3 in an attempt to resolve the situation. Tracy Byrd said little was accomplished.

"We didn't get along," she said. "When it ended, I was very upset and Don cussed me out."

She said her husband reluctantly signed the initial agreement with King. Because of Byrd's elusive, defensive style, many top contenders avoided fighting him.

Tracy Byrd said she and her husband decided that signing with King would enhance Chris' career because the promoter controlled so many top heavyweights, but she had misgivings.

"I was very, very, very nervous about Chris signing with King. I was almost shaken," Tracy Byrd said. "Chris had the pen in his hand and he looked at me and said, `I won't sign it if you don't want me to do it.' I reluctantly said, `No, just do it.' He needed the fight with Holyfield, but I was terribly nervous when he signed with Don."

King failed to return repeated phone calls Tuesday. He told the Review-Journal in its July 3 editions that he paid Byrd more for the Holyfield, Oquendo and Golota fights than Byrd had made since turning pro in 1992.

King said then that the marketplace prevented him from paying Byrd the contract minimum.

"His style of fighting is boring," King said. "But don't forget, even with all of that, before he signed with me, the most he ever made was $400,000. He's made millions with me, even in a terrible, terrible marketplace."